NDCO & DMO Joint Letter

The National Democratic County Officials (NDCO) and Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) collectively represent over 48,000 elected officials. These Democrats have yet to be strategically engaged in the Democratic Party, whether as part of the “bench” or as part of the organizational structure. This resource of 48,000 people who have all been successfully elected to public office, who understand how to run an election day operation, who understand how to use ballot initiatives to increase voter turnout, and who have relationships at all levels of government in blue districts and in red, can reinvigorate our party, with just a modest investment. We know that it is at the local level where our Democrats are the most trusted and where the best progressive legislation is launching. NDCO and DMO hereby ask the Democratic Party of the United States, the Democratic National Committee, and the candidates for Chair and Vice-Chair of the DNC to commit to the following so that we can be the tentacles of our party in every region of this country. We don’t have to learn to talk with people who voted for the current President – we are in every community in America, and those voters are our constituents. We simply need the resources and lines of communication to be able to reach them with you.

|

Director of State & Local Affairs - Staff person hired by the DNC, in consultation with NDCO and DMO, to specifically work with local elected officials and on local races (county & municipal).

Targeting Data - Access to the latest political data (targeting, consumer, voter file, etc.) through DNC partnerships with organizations like TargetSmart, NGP-VAN, etc. Most important here is the identification of the local officials who fall under our membership categories and their party affiliation so we can work to engage them in our efforts.

Grants - $150,000 grant per year to NDCO, DMO, and other groups including the yet to formalize Democratic Education Officials, and other constituency groups as needed. The funding would be specifically for staffing needs, to ensure consistent development of these groups that won't ebb and flow based on the current Chairperson / President. While the Democratic Governors' Association may be able to consistently raise the dollars needed to staff the organization, groups of city council members, county officials and school board members have a much harder time raising those funds.

County & Municipal Director / State Party Grants - Money to state parties to specifically hire one organizer who focuses solely on local (county and municipal) races. Similar to how State Parties hire State House and State Senate Directors, State Parties should hire one or more (depending on the size of the state) County and Municipal Director.

Campaign & Media Trainings - In partnership with NDCO, DMO, etc., commitment from the DNC to hold regional or state specific campaign and media trainings designed to train local elected officials and candidates for local office.

DNC Caucus & Councils - The creation of a Local Elected Officials Caucus within the DNC.

DNC Membership - Commitment by the DNC to retain the Super Delegate status of the officers of DMO, NDCO, etc. and to appoint more local elected officials as members of the DNC, and to identify on the roster those current DNC members who hold public office.

Surrogates/Speakers – Commitment by the DNC to send top tier speakers/surrogates to national and state events hosted by DMO, NDCO and other groups to help inspire leadership and volunteer engagement.

Convenings – Just as the DNC Convenes the ASDC, the DNC should convene the leadership of all the elected officials constituency groups – particularly to address voter protection, voter registration, and voter engagements. There is much we as elected officials can do together if the Democratic Secretaries of State, the Democratic Attorneys General, NDCO, DMO and other groups at least know what the other is doing. It is long past time to break down the silos.